Plain in the city

A plain Quaker folk singer with a Juris Doctorate in his back pocket, salt in his blood, and a set of currach oars in the closet, Ulleann Pipes under his arm, guitar on his back, Anglo Irish baggage, wandering through New York City ... in constant amaze. Statement of Faithfulness. As a member of the Quaker Bloggers Ad Hoc Committee I affirm that I will be faithful to the Book of Discipline of my Meeting 15th Street Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

Friday, February 22, 2008

No hope, no future

There comes a time when there is no way ahead, no hope, no future ... what do you do then?

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Please help save the life of Vijay Wijesundera

Consulate General of Sweden
One Dag Hammearskjold Plaza
885 Second Ave.
45th Fl.
NYC
10017-2201

Dear Friend, the Consul General of Sweden:

I am writing to you under the weight of my terrible concern for Vijay Wijesundera. In his application to be resettled in Sweden, his dossier number is: 9360718.

He is an attender at the 15th Street Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers.

Vijay came to us when he arrived in the United States as a refugee from Sri Lanka. He is a talented, well educated, young man, who feels completely devoted to the cause of peace. In my understanding of his present torment, the fact that the United States makes war on other nations which have not attacked this nation makes it impossible for him to live a complete life here. He will not work and pay taxes to further the war effort, nor will he marry or do anything to deepen his ties here, so as not to be drawn into being, in essence, trapped here.

Today, 02\06\2008, Vijay is now on the fortieth day of a fast and I fear for his life. It would be a great loss to the world to lose this young man as a result of his objection to war. I pray that your peaceful and good nation will reconsider and welcome this young man, quickly, as there is little time left to him.

In the light of God's love,

Lorcan Otway
Member of the Committee of Ministry and Counsel
New York Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Member of the Pastoral Care Committee
of the Fifteenth Street Monthly Meeting of the same.

cc: McGranag@UNHCR.org
Anne-Marie McGranaghanUNHCRRe:case# ROW # 68859